Tables

Tables

Why Use Tables ?

Microsoft Word tables can help you arrange your thoughts and data in ways that make sense to the people you're trying to reach.

Tables can be a great way to present numbers, but it also does a great job of presenting text and graphics. Just about anything can be put into the table. It's all up to you.

In short, a table is a collection of rows and columns that allows you organize text, graphics and data.

You know how present information in parallel columns by using tabs or using columns in Word. Word's Tables feature will allow you to format, edit, delete, and move text without affecting the rest of your document.

There are several ways to create tables in Word…….

•On the Insert Tab, in the Table Group click on the table command.

•Now, drag the number of columns and rows you want in your table.

Drag your mouse diagonally

1. Creating Tables by dragging to size

7 Rows by 5 columns

From the menu, Choose Insert Table. The Insert Table dialog box appears.

•Determine the number of columns and rows you need in your table. You can add more later.

•To create a table as wide as your page, leave the Fixed Column Width setting on Auto.

•Click OK. A table is inserted into your document.

2. The Insert Table Dialog Box:

• Click the Draw Tables button on menu.The mouse pointer turns into a pencil.

• Drag the pencil to create a rectangle about the size of the table you want.

• Release the mouse button. The border of the table appears in your document.

• Use the pencil again to draw in column and row borders.

• Click the Draw Table button again to change the pencil back into an I-beam.

3. Creating Tables Using the Draw Tables command:

Anatomy of a Table

A column is a vertical line of boxes

A row is a horizontal line of boxes

A cell is one box

Enter Text

Click in a cell and start typing.

If you start in the upper left corner, you can use the tab key to move to the right and then down and across again.

Moving Around in a Table:

• Use the Tab key or right arrow key to move right.

• Use Shift + Tab or the left arrow key to move left.

• The up and down arrow keys will move the insertion point above or below its current location.

To Insert Rows in the Middle of the Table:

• Place the insertion point where you want to add your row.

• Right click and choose INSERT

To Add Rows at the bottom:

• Move the insertion point to the last cell in the table and press Tab.

Add a Row

To Insert a Column:

• Position the mouse pointer where you want to column to be located.

• Right click and choose Insert - Insert Columns to the Right or Insert Columns to the Left.

Add a Column

To Delete Rows or Columns:

• Select the row(s) or column(s) you want to delete.

• Right-click and choose Delete Rows or Columns from the shortcut menu.

To delete an entire table – select the entire table

Right click choose CUT

Delete a Row or Column

Change Column Width or Height

To Adjust Columns and Cell Width:

•Hover the insertion point over the border between the row and column.

•The insertion point changes to a double-headed arrow.

•Drag the border in either direction.

After a table is created, you may need to adjust the size of columns and cells.

You can combine two or more cells in your table to create one large cell. This is useful when you want to display a title in the cell at the top of your table.

Highlight the adjacent cells that you want to merge.

Right click select merge cells

Type your title into the merged cell

Merge Cells

You can split one cell in your table into several smaller cells.

Click the cell you want to split

On the table menu choose split cell

Double click and type the number of columns and rows that you want inside the cell.

Click OK

Split Cells

Formatting Text

Selecting parts of a table:

A cell: click inside cell.

A row: Move mouse to left of margins, the I beam becomes an arrow. Point to the row, and click.

Multiple rows: Select the first row, click and drag the number of rows desired.

A column: Move the mouse above the column. It turns into a downward pointing arrow. Click once.

Multiple columns: Select the first column, click and drag the number of columns desired.

Entire Table: Click on the handle in the upper left corner

Whatever you do to format text in a paragraph (make it bold green, for example), you can do to text in a table cell.

You have the option to place text exactly where you want it in a cell.

To select the text you want to align differently, drag your mouse across the cells.

Right click and choose cell alignment. Click on the icon that represents the alignment you need.

Align Text in Cells

You can change the direction of text to emphasize text or to fit long column headings into a narrow column.

To select the text you want to align differently, drag your mouse across the cells

Click the button to change the direction of the text. Repeat this step until the text appears the way you want.

Change Text Direction

You can enhance the appearance of your tables by changing the borders. You can change all of borders, or just specific cells. Changing the border on individual cells can help to emphasize important information.

Select the cells, rows, columns, or entire table that you wish to change.

Change or RemoveTable Borders

To remove borders select the cells with borders and choose NONE

You can draw attention to an area of your table by adding shading to cells.

Select the cells, rows, columns, or entire table that you wish to change.

Add Shading to Cells

Word offers many ready-to-use designs that you can apply to your tables.

Table Tools

Here is another set of tools that only appears when you need it.

You can see what the style will look like before you select it.

Move a Table

You can move a table from one location to another in your document. You must be in print layout or web layout view.

Position the mouse over the table you want to move. A handle appears in the upper left corner

table

Position the mouse over the handle and your cursor changes to the same 2 arrow symbol. Drag your table with the handle.

Resize a Table

You can change the size of a table to improve the layout of your document.

Position the mouse over the table you want to resize. A square handle appears in the lower right corner

Position the mouse over the handle and your cursor changes to a two way arrow symbol. Drag to resize your table with the handle.

table